This is true. However the danger inherent in a horse bolting on the open prairie in 1830 was a lot less than the danger of a horse today bolting down the road or even through the beginners lesson program.
I suspect that the buffalo hunters were not only good riders, but also they had specific mounts for that project.
The GP horse at buffalo hunting
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Also I think there is a different equine psychology to riding in a group at speed. The only modern disciplines that do it are fox hunting and perhaps racing. Oh and drill team. And reckless teen trail riders if they still exist.
Horses will group together and stick together. And they love galloping in a herd. If you don’t need to micromanage gaits and stay in an arena, you can use the herd instinct to get things done. I’m sure that’s why the cavalry charge worked too.
Shooting an arrow at a stampeding buffalo is not at all like fox hunting or a cavalry charge. In the latter two situations you are not likely to be gored. And if you horse goes down the riders behind try not to trample you. Not the case with buffalo.:eek::eek:
All true. I would assume as with all cattle horses 
the horse is allowed a fair bit of freedom to think for himself. And the activity utilizes the horse’s flight reaction.
By cattle horses, I assume you mean cutting horses. I’d say they have more than a fair bit of thinking for themselves. The riders grab horn for a reason.:winkgrin:
I don’t see a bit of flight reaction with cutting horses-they are almost diabolically fixed on that cow.
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No, there’s no flight reaction in cutting horses. But things like racing use it to their advantage, its like a whole herd stampeding.
